Brides-to-be, have you chosen mehandi designs for your feet yet?

With Indian weddings, the festivities don’t just involve one big event. Instead, weddings in India give us more than a few reasons to celebrate the union of two people, from fun-filled sangeets to vibrant haldi ceremonies. And one of the most playful functions from the general wedding line-up is the mehandi party.

An integral part of an Indian wedding, you could call the mehandi ceremony the world’s first bridal shower—it finds its traces in 15th century, while the modern-day bridal shower is said to have originated in the 19th century. The ceremony involves brides-to-be getting the traditional mehandi applied on their hands and feet with female members of her family and friends, and is usually followed with song and dance performances.

Though mehandi is usually associated with hands, many brides choose to etch mehandi designs on their legs and feet as well. From intricate Indian styles to spaced-out Arabic designs and simpler mandalas, there are several ways to decorate the legs (up to the knees) with henna. If the idea seems too radical, consider a modest design. How about a spaced-out mehandi design with vintage roses? Or an anklet-style design? Scroll ahead to take a look at the mehandi designs for legs that work best for your personality type.

Indian mehandi designs for a traditional bride

Intricacy and attention to detail underpin Indian mehandi designs. Paisleys, peacocks, portraits, vintage roses, jali work and many such meticulous patterns go into making a traditional Indian mehandi. Whether you choose to go all out with vines twirling around the ankles and extending all the way up to the knees, or stick to designs for the top of your feet, there are endless iterations to try.

Option: Arabic mehandi designs for the legs

Characterised by their negative spaces, Arabic mehandi designs are free-flowing and bold. It is the perfect mehandi style for a bride who doesn’t want anything ostentatious with her mehandi. The USP of this style of mehandi is at its borders—the mehandi here is outlined with a distinctly thick line as compared to the Indian style. At times, a gradient effect is created using henna to further enhance the depth, and Indian motifs are combined with Arabic designs to create unique patterns.

Mehandi designs for the minimalist brides

After Anushka Sharma set new benchmark for minimalist brides everywhere, we aren’t even surprised that the ‘less is more’ thumb rule has trickled down to bridal mehandi designs too. This works well if you’re likely to sport a statement anklet or any form of jewellery on the feet. A popular modest mehandi design for legs is one that resembles traditional jewellery, such as anklets or even jhumkas, And designs inspired by Buddhist mandalas pose as favourites too, specially among brides like Soha Ali Khan, who prefer simplicity and elegance.

Option: Personalised mehandi designs for the legs

If you crave all things personalised, the bridal mehandi you pick for your legs should be no exception. Have your artist paint pretty pictures of things that hold some sentimental value—whether it’s your wedding dates or your husband’s profession (remember how Priyanka Chopra got a guitar etched into her mehandi). We even found a bride who got an image of the Qutub Minar crafted on her legs.

Contemporary designs for a new-age bride

A skilled bridal mehandi artist can give traditional motifs a contemporary refresh by just changing the placement of the designs. This is perfect for when you want the best of both the worlds. Alternatively, you can also request reverse mehandi designs if you want to be a little quirky. Or how about coverage on just the visible areas of the feet, because your toes might be covered with shoes?

Option: Mehandi designs with colour and crystals

Look to glitter or crystals for your design. Though it serves as a temporary option most times, glitter mehandi is ideal for a pre-wedding function like a sangeet.

Scroll through the gallery below for our edit of the best mehandi designs for legs.

Also read:

30 mehandi designs and where to find a good artist in your country

8 ways to customise your mehandi design like celebrity brides

The history of bridal mehandi: How the tradition came to be